Multiple quick disconnect coupling



April 30, 1946. J. R. SNYDER MULTIPLE QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING Filed Oct. 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jivcoa [LU/5H SNYDER J. R. SNYDER 2,399,515 MULTIPLE QUICK DIS CONNECT COUPLING I Filed Oct. 1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3' 1' 0 3 Jflcoa Hus/1 SNYDER M MM lzf s Patented Apr. 30, 1946 MULTIPLE QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING Jacob Rush Snyder, Cleveland, Ohio, asslgnof to Thompson Products, Inc.,

corporation oi Ohio Cleveland, Ohio, at

Application October 1, 1943, Serial No. 504,533

1 Claim.

This invention relates to couplings having a plurality. of passages adapted to be automatically sealed whenever the coupling parts are disconnected.

More specifically, the invention relates to a coupling device having a pair of coupling boxes each providing a plurality of ports for individual connection with tubes, pipes and the like and a single split-plug type valve for sealing the-ports whenever the coupling boxes are disconnected and for detachably connecting the boxes together by placing the ports of one box in communication with the respective ports of the other box whereby coupling and uncoupling of the boxes is performed by a simple quarter-turn of the plug type valve.

The invention is particularly advantageously adapted for use in the coupling together of fuel, oil, air or water lines serving airplane engines and will hereinafter be specifically described for such use. It should, however, be understood that the coupling devices of the present invention are not limited to anyparticular use, that shown and described herein being solely for the purpose of illustration.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a coupling device having therein a valve for placing a pluralitylof passages in each coupling part in fluid flow communication while simultaneously locking each of the parts together.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby a plurality of fluid linescan be interconnected or disconnected as quickly and as effectively as one line can be so handled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a multiple self-sealing detachable coupling adapted to connect the ends of a plurality of pairs of conduits when coupled together and to seal the ends of each conduit when uncoupled.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a multiple coupling unit which will handle as many different types of fluid, at

different temperatures, pressure and vacuum conditions as there are lines connected to the same.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coupling unit which cannot leak from one line connection to the other, that is to say, if one connection should leak interiorly of the unit, the fluid will be by-passed internally of the device to the outside and'not from one line to the other.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a coupling unit which will be economical to manufacture and capable of be ing made on a production basis.

Other and further objects of the invention will way of preferred example, disclose a specific embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred type oi multiple detachable coupling unit embodying the principles of the present invention:

Figure 2 is an elevation of the coupling unit as seen from the left hand side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 represents an elevation of the coupling unit of Figure 1 from the right side;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the coupling unit illustrated in Figure 1;.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the coupling unit of Figure 1 as seen from the line V-V therein;

Figure 6 represents a vertical section corresponding substantially to Figure 5 but with the plug disposed at right angles to the position illustrated in the above mentioned figures thereby rendering the two parts of the coupling unit ready for detachment;

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-section as seen from the line VII- VII in Figure 4 with the several parts exposed in interlocking engagement;

Figure 8 illustrates the type of coupling unit in horizontal cross-section corresponding to Figure '1 but with the plug unit in the position for disengagement of the parts;

Figure 9 represents a plan view of the coupling unit with the parts in disengaged relation and with parts broken away;

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross-section with parts broken away as seen from the line X-X in-Figurefi; and

Figure 11 is a partial cross-section taken through one of the segments of the couplin shown in Figure 9 and as seen substantially from the line XI-XI therein.

As shown on the drawings:

As will be apparent from Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the multiple detachable coupling unit H of the present invention includes a pair of coupling boxes I 8 and it with which is associated the valve unit it comprisin semi-cylindrical parts it and H. The couplin box is is provided with a flange l3 apertured as indicated at It to receive a plurality of bolts or other suitable fastening means for securing said coupling box to the fire wall or partition embody all of-the foregoing features and yet will 5 forming part of an airplane engine nacelle (not shown). The coupling I2 is usually mounted in such fashion that the box l8 together with the plug 13 will be disposed on the inner side or the fire wall so that only the outer portion of the coupling box 18 will be disposed externally of the nacelie.

The coupling box I8 is provided with angularly disposed faces 20 and 2i in each of which a plurality of ports 22 are located as seen in Figure 4. For the purposes of illustration, five such ports 22 are employed, three being positioned in the face 20 and two in the face 2| in staggered relation so as to permit the grouping of a maximum number of connections in a minimum of space.

It will, of course, be understood that any convenient number of ports may be associated with the coupling box It. Similarly, the coupling box I! has angularly disposed faces 23 and 24 accommodating therein a plurality of ports 23 also arranged in staggered relation and corresponding generally with the ports 22 of the coupling box 18, (see Figure 2) All of the ports 22 and 23 are internally threaded and are preferably adapted to taper from the outer end toward the base thereof. Thus, said ports 22 and 25 are adapted to receive in threaded relation therein thimble-type couplin s or other suitable fittings applied to the ends of the pipes or tubes which are to be associated with the coupling unit l2 for detachable engagement.

The coupling boxes l8 and 18 are advantageously of generally semi-cylindrical form as will best be seen from Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The faces 28 and 2| as well as faces 23 and 24 previously referred to are formed on the portions 28 and 21 of coupling boxes l8 and I8, respectively, said portions 23 and 21 projecting from thegenerally semi-cylindrical body portions 28- and 28 respectively. The body portions 28 and 28 of coupling boxes l8 and I8, respectively, are adapted to mate as at the joint 38 when said coupling boxes are placed in abutting relation so as to define an open topped closed bottom hollow cylindrical chamber 32 which receives the valve unit l3 composed, as we have seen, of segments l8 and 11, as illustrated in Figure 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The chamber 32 although open at the top is closed at the bottom thereof by the generally I semi-circular base portions 33 and 34 of the semicylindrical body portions 28 and 28 of the coupling boxes [8 and I8, respectively. The open end of the chamber 32 is provided with an upwardly extending annular rim which is formed by the semi-circular projections 33 and 38 of body portions 28 and 28, respectively. An upwardly projecting annular rib is formedin the base portions 33 and 34 by the cooperation of the generally semi-circular portions 31 and 38, respectively, thereof. 1 Disposed concentrically and externally of-the rib comprising the semi-circular portions 31 and 38 in the base portions 33 and 34 or the body portions 28 and 28 of coupling boxes l8 and I8, respectively, are the arcuate grooves 38 and 48 which cooperate when the coupling boxes l8 and is are mated together to form an annular groove. Similarly, semi-circularly shaped grooves 4| and Ma disposed within the chamber 32 and advantageously in close proximity to the base portions 33 and 34 of said coupling boxes i8 and I8, respectively, in which they are formed cooperate when said boxes are mated, to define a generally circular groove extending completely about the inner periphery of said chamber 32.

I Also disposed in theintemal periphery of the chamber 32 and advantageously arranged one above the other are a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped bores or chambers 42 and 43 associated with coupling boxes l8 and I8, respectively. Communicating with each of the chambers 42 is a passage 44 which interconnects with one of the ports 22 of the coupling box i8. Similarly, the chambers 43 and ports 23 of coupling box I8 are interconnected by passages 45.

The part l6 of valve l3 disposed in chamber 32 is provided with a generally semi-circular flange portion 41 which is adapted to extend over and ride upon the uppermost edge of the generally circular rim formed by the portions 33 and 33 of the coupling boxes l8 and'l9, respectively.

A downwardly projecting lip portion 48 formed on and corresponding in shape with flange 41 is adapted to encompass theouter arcuate periphery of the portion 33 of the rim so as to provide c0- operative engagement between the segment I6 of the valve l3 and the coupling box I8. The part II of the valve i3 is provided with a corresponding flange portion 48 and lip 38 similar to that of the part it for cooperative engagement with the portion 36 of the rim forming part of the coupling box IS.

The valve I3 is provided at its base with a generally annular projection made up of the arcuate portions 32 and 33 of the parts It and i1, respectively, which are adapted to cooperate with the annular groove formed by the arcuate grooves 38 and 48 in the base portions 33 and 34 of the coupling boxes l8 and I8, respectively. A laterally projecting annular tongue portion is provided adjacent the base of the valve l3 and made up of portions 34 and 33 on the parts l8 and I1, respectively, for engagement with the generally circular groove formed by the cooperating arcuate portions 4| and 4m in the internal wall of thechamber 32 adjacent the base portions 33 4 and 34 of the body portions 28 and 28 of the coupling boxes l8 and I8, respectively.

This annular tongue portion engaging the groove 4|, a in coupling boxes l8 and I8 cooperates with the flange portion 41. 48 of the parts l3 and I1 of the valve l3 riding upon the rim 33, 33 encircling the open end of the chamber 32 to support the valve l3 in rotatable relation with respect to said chamber and to enable the parts l8 and 11 to be held in operative engagement with the coupling boxes l8 and i8, respectively, when the coupling unit is disengaged. The portion 33 formed on part H of valve I3 which together with portion 34 of part l8 comprises the tongue registering with groove 4|, 4Ia is advantageously not completely semicircular in form to enable the several parts of valve i3 and boxes l3 and I8 to be assembled. The portion 33 is shaped as shown in Figure 10 with it latera1 edges substantially tangential to the semi-circular wall of said part 11.

Extending laterally or diametrically of the valve l3 and disposed solely in a projecting portion 38 of the part II thereof are a plurality of connecting passages 31. As will best be seen from Figure 6, the several passages 51 which correspond in number to the number of ports 22 and 23 in the coupling boxes i8 and I8, respectively, are arranged one above the other in the projecting portion 33 of the part I! adjacent the joint between the parts It and I1, as indicated by the reference character 38 in Figure 6. These passages 31 communicate with and connect together the several chambers 42 and 43 in the internal II is in the position represented in Figures and '7.

Suitable sealing means are provided in each of the chambers 42 and 43 to enable the preven-.

tion of leakage between the several chambers and the corresponding passage I1 in the valve I! connecting therewith. The sealing means illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings comprises generally a sealing or packing ring 80 fabricated from any suitable material such, for example, as cork, rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene or the like, in the aperture of whichvis inserted a sealguide 8| which is flanged as at 82 to completely encompass the outermost surface )f the packing ring 84. Theflang 62 of seal guide 6| provides a contact surface for the spring 63 inserted between said flange and the base of the chamber 42 or 43, as the case may be, to urge the packing Iill firmly against the outer surface of the valve I5 or the part IE or I! thereof, as the case may be.

This packing assembly serves, in each case, to prevent leakage between the inner wall of the chamber 32 and the outer surface of the valve member I5 adjacent the passages 51 therein. Moreover, the arrangement of the chambers 42 or 43 and their associated packing assemblies is such as to prevent the possibility of fluid from one of the interconnected series of ports 22 and together with the passage 5'! from leaking into any of the other associated ports 22, 25 and passageway 51in the coupling unit. If any one of the connections should leak as at the chamber 42 or 43, the fluid will simply be by-passed over the external periphery of the valve i5 and cannot combine with or contaminate the fluid in any other of the adjacent passageways or ports.

The operation of the coupling unit of the present invention will best be understood from a reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. As indicated in Figure 7, the valve I5 is adJusted in cooperative engagement with the coupling boxes is and I9 so that the passageway 57 is in communication with chambers 42 and 43 serving the ports 22 and 25 of the coupling boxes I 8 and I9, respectively, When it is desired to disengage the coupling boxes I8 and I9, the valve, i5 is rotated the coupling boxes I8 and I! to be disengaged. The part ll of the valve I5 is thereafter secured to and retained in the coupling box l8 while the part I! of the valve I5 is secured to and retained by the application of a wrench or other suitable tool to the boss made up of the cooperating stud portions 65 and 66 of the parts It and i1, respectively, a quarter-tum in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in Figures 1 or 7 of the drawings.

In the original position, the lug 68 formed on the part I! is in contact with the stop 69 formed on the coupling box I8. By the rotation of valve I5, the lug Ill on the part I6 of said valve now comes in contact with the stop 69. The valve Ii will thereafter be in the position indicated in Figure 6 wherein the passages 51 are disposed substantially at right angles to thechambers 42 and 43 of the coupling boxes I8 and I9, respectively. Thus, the chambers 42 of the coupling box l8 will be closed by reason of thev contact of the ar cuate outer surface of the part I6 therewith. The corresponding chambers 43 of the coupling box I! will be in contact with a similar blank arouate surface of part II of the valve I5. In this position also, the joint 59 in the valve I5 formed between the parts It and I1 thereof and the Joint 30 formed between the body portions 28 and 28 of the coupling boxes I3 and I9, respectively, will be coincident to each other thereby permitting in the coupling box I 9, as indicated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

To insure against the possibility of the part I6 being shifted with respect to box I8 while the coupling boxes I8 and I9 are disengaged said part is provided with a lock pin arrangement which operatesto prevent unauthorized movement of the parts. The locking pin arrangement involving the pin 18 which extends through the substantially radially disposed bore 19 into a cylindrical indentation 80 in part l6 encompassing the spring 8| secured in compressed relation between the fastening on the end of the pin 18 and the base of the indentation 80. When the parts of the coupling unit are disengaged, the

pin 13, the downwardly turned portion 82 of which is adapted to slidably engage the outer periphery of the semi-circular rim portion 35, is rendered free to move axially with respect to the bore 19 under the action of the spring 8| so as to expose the end 84 of said pin 18 and to cause the downwardly turned portion 32 to engage a depression 83 formed in the wall of portion 35 and so formed that the part it is prevented from being rotated in a clockwise direction as long as the coupling boxes It and is are disengaged. I v

The counterclockwise motion of the part it will, however, not be restricted by the depression83 by virtue of the fact that the depression 83 is tapered more gradually from its base toward the outer arcuate surface of the portion 35 in this direction. When the two parts it and ll of the valve [5 are again assembled, the surface of the part ii at the joint 59 will come n contact with the exposed end M of the pin it urging it against the pressure of the spring 35 axially outward. The turned down portion 82 of pin 18 will thereafter be prevented from en= I 13 which engages the outer periphery of the semi-circular rim portion 36. Portion is of pin 12 is adapted, when the parts are in properly engaged relation and when the lug 68 is in position against the stop 69, to register with a recess 14 being urged into said recess is by means of the spring 15 secured in any suitable fashion to the opposite end of the pin 12. Spring 15 is compressed between its fastening on pin I2 and the base of a generally cylindrical indentation 16 in part I! with which the substantially radially extending bore TI accommodating the pin 12 in axially slidable relation communicates. This locking pin arrangement is provided to prevent unauthorized rotation of valve I5 when the parts of the coupling are in operating arrangement.

I claim as follows:

In a muitiplequick disconnect coupling having a pair of complementary semi-cup like coupling boxes, said boxes when abutted together torming a cup and defining a chamber, a longitudinally split two-piece elongated valve rotatable in said chamber, one of said valve pieces having a plurality of spaced transverse passageways therethrough each terminating at opposite sides of the piece, each box having a row of longitudinally spaced port openings in the chamber defining portion thereof, each port opening in one row being paired with a port opening in the other row to register with one passageway only of the valve, and complementary interfltting means at the ends of the valves and boxes coacting to couple the boxes together when the valve is rotated to align the passageways with the port openings and to' disconnect the boxes while retaining a valve piecctherein when the valve is rotated to cover the port openings, means to connect the port openings of said boxes with conduits comprising a plurality of adjacent rows of hollow nipples projecting from each box, the nipples in adjacent rows being in staggered relation to accommodate large nipple sizes without elongating the boxes, and said boxes having passages extending in angular relation from the ports and joining the hollow interior of each nipple with a port opening whereby a plurality of pairs oi conduits connected to the nipples can be placed in fluid flow communication or in disconnected sealed relation by said coupling without requiring a large operating space.

JACOB RUSH SNYDER. 

